Columbus City Schools issues fail, but city bond issues pass

Issue 50 would have allowed the district to issue $175 million in bonds for new schools and other improvements and an additional 8 mill property tax for current expenses. Issue 51 would have created an independent auditor position for the schools.

"We firmly believe the reform plan that was developed by the Columbus Education Commission, and endorsed by the Board of Education and the Levy Millage Committee, leads CCS in the right direction," said interim Superintendent Dan Good. "We will continue our reform efforts – to improve the quality of education provided to students – to implement those pieces of the reform program that can be implemented without additional financial resources – and to work even harder to restore the community's trust in our school district."

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman said this is only the "first inning" and that leaders and the community must continue to work for students.

In a statement, Good added that they will "reflect and assess" the election results to understand why voters made the decision they did.

Upper Arlington voters approved a levy request there.

Columbus City Council seats that were up for grabs all went to the incumbents.

The four Columbus City bond issues all passed with ease.

Whitehall voters rejected a proposal to remove term limits on elected officials. Voters in Reynoldsburg and Gahanna turned down income tax levies in those communities.

In Licking County the Newark City Schools levy passed as did levies for the Heath, Granville, and North Fork schools. A bond issue for Southwest Licking schools was defeated.

Voters in the Logan Elm School District defeated a bond issue. It passed narrowly in Pickaway County, but voters in Hocking County rejected it.

Union County voters okayed levies for the Marysville and Fairbanks schools. They also passed a levy for the Marysville Public Library and North Union - Richwood Public Library.

In Delaware County's Berkshire Township voters said yes to a re-zoning of property near the I-71 and US 36/37 interchange. That clears the way for an outlet mall to be built there.